Shell-fish opener.



J. A. LLOYD. SHELL FISH OPENER.

APPLIOA'I'IOK FILED JUNE 21, 1909.

Patented D80. 21, 1909. 0EBBTS-4HEBT 1.

uncanny 3X 4 tn now J.' A. LLOYD.

SHELL FISH OPENER.

APPLIOATION rn-nn mm. 21, 1909.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Jan/@225? wihwaoeo JOHN A. LLOYD, OF CLARK FORK, IDAHO.

SHELL-FISH OPENER.

cranes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Ilatonted Dec. 2.1, 1909.

Application filed June 21, 1909. Serial No. 503.446.

skilled in the art to which itappertaiiis to make and use the same.

This invention relates to devices for opening shell-fish more particularly oysters, clams, and the like, and has for one of its objects to provide a simply constructed device whereby the oysters or clams may be first clipped, and then opened.

With this and other objects in view. the

invention consists in certain novel. Features of construction as hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved device complete. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. F 5-) the line of Fig. 2. Fig. i is a section on the line -1L-t of Fig. 2.

The improved device comprises a base member or any suitable material, but prelim-ably of wood. The base member may be supported in any suitable manner, but

will preferably be provided with a suitable clamping device 11,. whereby the base member may be detachably coupled to a table or other like support.

Formed through the base member 10 is an aperture 12 through which a standard 13 is arranged to move vertically. the standard being provided with ratchet teeth l-it with which a spring actuated pawl 15 engages, to hold the standard in any desired position. The upper portion of the standard is curved inwardly or toward the center of the base as shown at 16, and mounted to swing at 1,7, in the curved portion of the standard is a lever 18. Connected to or formed in the standard 16 is a socket 19 having a wedge or chisel shaped outwardly directed lower terminal 39, and the lower end of the lever 18 is provided with a shoe 20 formed chisel pointed as shown at 21 and is designed to enter the socket when the lever is disposed in its rearward position, the object to be hereafter explained.

Located upon the member 10, and preferis a section on I ably embedded therein is a bar 22 having ratchet teeth 23. and with recesses 24-25 at the sides of the bar. and also extending beneath the bar, as shown in Fig. :l. Slidably disposed upon the bar 22 is a socket member 26 in which one end of the oyster, represented at 27. designed to rest while being opened. The member 2t) is provided with spaced cars 28-29 between which a holding lever 30 is pivotally mounted at 3]. the lever having a reduced terminal 32 engaging with the ratchet teeth 23. The member 26 provided with bands SPV- E-J- at op posite sides depending into the recesses E F-25, and bearing around the bar 22, the bands thus serving as guides to the member 26, and holding the oyster from upward movement.

lhnbedded in one side of the base 10 is a shear plate 35, and mounted to swing at, 36 upon the base 10, preferably upon the shear plate 35, is a shearing lever 37. the shearing lever coactiug with the shca r plate to clip the oysters or clams prior to the opening operation. A spring 38 is arranged to main tain the lever 37 yieldably in its inoperative or up 'ard position.

\Vith a device thus constructtul. the oyster to be opened is first located upon the base 10 with one end extending over the shear plate and held in that position and the lever 37 depressed to clip the oyster at one end. The oyster is then located with one end upon the socket or support 26 and the lever 18 located with its point 21. within the clipped end, the standard 1?) having been previously adjusted to bring the chisel point 39 in the proper location relative to the oyster. The adjusting lever 30 is then operated to adjust the socket 2G in proper position relative to the oyster, and held firmly in its adjusted position. while the lever 18 is actuated to force the wedge or chisel. shaped tern'iinal 2t against the oyster. this operation elevating the upper shell and holding the lower shell in its downward position. The levers are then released and the oyster removed from the lower shell by a knife or other suitable implement in the ordinary manner. By this simple means it will be obvious that the oysters may be very quickly opened without injury to the oyster and by the expenditure of a relatively small amount of labor and time.

The improved device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured, and adapted to use in kitchens, restaurants, hotels, or oyster stands. All of the parts of the device except the base 10 are of metal, and the metal will preferably be galvanized or otherwise coated to protect them from corrosion. The shoe 20 will preferably be of steel, and suitably tempered to render it capable of resisting the severe strains to which it will. be subjected.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described an adjustable support. a lever mounted to swing, and a shoe carried by said lever and provided with a fiat lower side and an inclined upper side and with a chisel shaped terminal, whereby the upper shell of an oyster may be detached and the lower shell retained in position.

2. In a device of the class described an adjustable support, a lever mounted to swing, means for adjusting said lever, and ashoe carried by said lever and provided with a flat lower side and an inclined upper side and with a chisel shaped terminal.

3. The combination with a base, of an adjustable support, a lever mounted to swing upon said base, means for adjusting said lever relative to said base, a shoe carried by said lever and provided with a fiat lower side and inclined upper side and with a chisel shaped terminal.

I. The combination with a base, of an adjustable support, a lever mounted to swing upon said base, means for adjusting said lever relative to said base, a shoe carried by said lever and having a chisel shaped terminal.

5. The combination with a base, of a socket for supporting an oyster at one end, means for adjusting said socket, a lever mounted to swing upon said base, means for adjusting said lever relative to said base, and a shoe carried by said lever and having a chisel shaped terminal.

6. The combination with a base having an aperture, a standard movable through said aperture, means for adjustably supporting said standard relative to said base, a lever mounted to swing upon said standard, a shoe carried by said lever and having a chisel shaped terminal, a movable socket support, and means for adjusting said support toward and away from said standard.

7. The combination with a base, of a standard, means for adjustably supporting said standard relative to said base, a lever mounted to swing upon said standard, a shoe carried by said lever and having a chisel shaped terminal, a ratchet bar carried by said base, a socket support movable over said bar, and a holding lever mounted to swing upon said socket support and engage with said ratchet bar.

8. The combination with a base of a lever mounted to swing upon said base, a shoe carried by said lever and having a chisel shaped terminal, a ratchet bar carried by said base and with guide recesses at the sides thereof, a socket slidable upon said bar and with bands depending into said recesses, and a holding lever mounted to swing upon said socket support and engage with said ratchet bar.

In a device of the class described an adjustable support, a chisel shaped projection upon said support, and a lever mounted to swing and provided with a chisel shaped terminal, whereby the upper shell of an oyster may be detached and the lower shell retained in position.

10. In a device of the class described a vertically adjustable support, a chisel shaped projection upon said support, a lever mounted to swing and with a chisel shaped terminal, means for adjusting said lever, and a horizontally adjustable support spaced from said vertical support.

11. The combination with a base, of an adjustable support, a lever mounted to swing upon said base and provided with a wedge shaped terminal, means for adjusting said lever relative to said base, and a socket carried by said support and into which said lever terminal enters.

12. The combination with a base, of a vertical support, a lever mounted to swing upon said support and provided with a chisel shaped terminal, means for adjusting said vertical support relative to said base, a socket carried by said support and having a chisel shaped terminal, and a horizontally adjustable support spaced from said vertical support.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. LLOYD.

itnesses I. IV. EDDY, JOHN. B. lVHrrooMB. 

